Centrifugal casting apparatus



Sheets-Sheet 1 G. A.' Rualssow gCENTRIFIJGAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Nov/5, 194:5

Oct "7, 1947.

ocr. 7, 1947. G. A. Rulssow 2,428,434

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 7, 1947.

UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE f CENTRIFUGAL CASTING APPARATUS George A. Rubissow, New York, N. Y. Application November 1943, Serial No. 509,036 s claims. (ci. zz-ss) This invention and improvement is a continuation in part of the co-pending applications for Letters Patent registered in the United States Patent Ofiice under the following Serial Numbers, dates and titlesiSerial No. 497.658,' Centrif' ugal compation and casting method apparatus therefor and products so obtained, tiled Aug. 6, ,1943, and Serial No. 502,778, Double vector centrifugal casting method apparatus therefor and products so obtained, filed Sept. 17, 1943.

This invention may also be used in combination with the improvements and methods patented in the United States under the numbers: #2,208,230; 2,222,266; and 2,325,019. f'. This invention relates to a centrifugal casting apparatus for casting various materials or treats ment of the same under the .influence of two simultaneously-acting centrifugal forces.

This apparatus may be used in combination with molds for casting therein of various machine parts. precision parts, all types of ingots, all types of objects produced by casting of fusible ma.te'v

rials.

According to this invention, the molten material is poured from a rotatable pouring gate provided in close vicinity to the mold, into the mold through a pouring distributing gate provided therein. 'I'his is done preferably while the apf paratus and the rotatable pouring gate and the mold are all in rotation and while the material is still in a molten state. In this way, all the hollows and crevices of the mold will be fllled with the molten material, and this simultaneous rotation oi' the material and the mold around two different axes of rotation thus brings the material under the innuence of a double vector centrifugal force until the casting is completed.

The above and further objects and novel features of this invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of this invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used, they refer to like parts throughout the several views and their descriptions:v

Figure 1 is a scliematical sidc view partly in cross section with parts broken out of one aspect of an apparatus according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a schematical simplified side view,

in cross-section with parts broken out of another 2 embodiment of an apparatus according to this invention. l

Figure 1 shows one aspect of the apparatus comprising a non-rotatable shaft 450 rigidly mounted on a support or base 5|. The shaft serves as a supporting shaft for that part of the apparatus which is rotated around it. This rotating part of the apparatus comprises a rotatable frame 52 which may itself be either a rigid frame, or a frame having parts such as compose the frame 52, consisting, among others, of a collar member 53 to which is rigidly mounted a supporting member or lever 54-54 on the end of which is mounted a, pivotal arm 55 through the intermediary of a pivot 56 for instance, or through another suitable interconnection known to those skilled in the art; an upper supporting plate or member or arm 51-58-59 which may compose one solid body or consist of detachable parts (such as forinstance, part 51 detachable from part 58 and yfrom part 59) which are mounted rigidly on the casing of the rotatingA pouring gate 62. This supporting plate 51-58- 59 may have an articulated or limitedly pivotal end 63 which may pivot on a pivot or axle 5I, for example. If desired, it may be provided on its outer end with a slot 55 in which a key 64 of any design may be mounted to interlock the pivotal arm 55 with the supporting plate 51-58-59. 'Ihe plate 51-58-59 may/ be rigidly aixed to the rotatable pouring gate 62, in which case the arm 55 may be made so that it will easily interlock on its free end with the supporting upper plate 51-58-59 by an arresting bar, sliding locky ing member, or any other suitable means.

The structure shown on the drawing is presented only as one of the possible embodiments and this invention is not limited thereto.

The operation of the rotatable frameY is simple: The limitedly pivotable end 63 may be lifted after the key is unlocked and the arm 55 is then pivoted downwards. This enables the casing 66 in which the mold 51 is placed to ybecome easily freed. It is preferable that arm 55 be provided with a bearing 68 one part of which is rigid with arm 55 or if it is itself a bearing, be a part thereof) and the other part rigid with the member 59. Member will be designated herein as a casing supporting rotatable locking member because it supports the pressure to the casing caused by the vcentrifugal force in' the radial direction around the axis of secondary'rotation 30-30 and because it is, "itself, rotatable around the first axis of rotation li--Hz also because it is provided with interlocking teeth or the like which enables it to operatively engage or connect with (interlock) the casing 66. This arrangement establishes a shaft of rotation around the rst axis of rotation ill-4l, end of this imaginary shaft is supported by the similar member 1i-13-14 mounted on a suitable part of the rotatable pouring gate 62.

Member 69 may have any suitable shape or form and may have any number of teeth 10 deemed'expedient. The bottom 16 of the casing should v. have openings or grooves 18 provided therein so that when the teeth 10 register therein the casing becomes operatively interconnected with the member 69 and is able to freely rotate, provided that the upper part of the casing 11 is also at the same time operatively interconnected with the member 1I-13'14. 10 and the openings 18 may have sufiicient clearance if it is desired to provide a more .easy

unlocking. f

Instead of teeth, another locking system may be used-for example, the member 69 may simply be. a cylinder-like member and the bottom ofr the casing may have a cylindrical groove to receive the same.

The member 69 may alsoy have a thread, instead of teeth, and the bottom 'of the casing 16 may be provided with a female thread, both screwed together in the direction opposite to the direction in which the casing rotates around its own axis of rotation.

The member 1| is both'in operation and design substantially the same as member 69, with the exception that it is mounted on orifice-part of the rotating pouring gate and has additionally a gear 12 mounted on the outer part thereof.

The two members 69 and Il should be coaxial withthe axis M-M, and should be rotatable about the axis .4I-4l, as shown on Figure 1.

The teeth 13 transmit the rotation to the casing 66 through the upper part 11 thereof. The openings or grooves which these teeth have to engage must also be precisely made.

It is preferable that a strictly controllable clearance should be provided in the radial direction of said rotation.

If itis found desirable to provide a smoother action during the casting process, grooves 19 may be provided with rubber cushions placed sov that when the teeth engage the groove, they will contact the rubber in the plane perpendicular to the radius of rotation around the first axis of rotation 4I-4l and thus absorb. the shock from assuming that the other The teeth an exitmay be anything from() to 180.

simultaneously around axis 90-30 and axis 4I-4I.' The two axes are shown on Figures `1 and 2, as intersecting one another, but this invention is not limited thereto, and the two axes of independent rotation may have any desirable position in the same plane, or in two planes, one

relative' to the other.

The axes -36 and II--M may lle at any suitable angle to each other and the 90 angle shown on Figures 1 and 2 is not definitive, as it In the case that the angle is 0 and 180, the first rotation around lthe first axis'39-30 may coincide with the rotation around the second axis dif-4| or be parallel thereto but at a distance therefrom. v

. The rotatable pouring gate is one of the very important features of this invention, enabling the transmission of the molten material during rotation from the outside to the mold rotating simultaneously around two different axes of rotation.

One of the important aspects in connection v with this rotatable pouring gate is that'it may by means of a key. or

the torque while transmitting the rotation from gear 12 to casing 66. l

The rubber cushion should preferably be placed as shown by on Figure 1.

Ball bearings are shown throughout the figures of this specification, but any other suitable bearing means may be used.

The rotation of the casing 66. aroundaxis Il-ll is caused., by the operative engagement of the gear 12 with the xed gear 8|, keyed or otherwise rigidly affixed on the fixed shaft 56. When the rotatable frame 54 is rotated by vsuitable driving means such as a driving gear f of a motor (not shown on' i belt83 through a pulley 86 ,then gear 12 is fixedgear 8l, which it is operatively interconnected by the i Y. .teeth 13 and grooves Figure l) or by a or by other means, forced to roll in engagement with thus rotating the casing 66 with 19(or the like). As a result, the casing with the mold therein will rotate itself bea carrier of the' casing-supporting-rotatlable-locking-member 'such as 1|121314 mounted on its walls. This aspect is one of the lmost useful for providing an economical construction of the apparatus, and is vtherefore of high industrial importance.

Furthermore, the herein described embodi ments of the main aspect permit easy functioning of the apparatus and easy replacement of the casing and the mold by another, the design of the casing being simple and inexpensive. An apparatus such as described herein may handle hundreds of casting operations in a few hours, and each of these casting operations may comprise at least two casings, each having at least one mold of the sameY or different shapes and sizes.

The rotatable pouring gate 62 may be mounted on the fixed shaft 50 through bearing means 8 5, or it may be free from any interconnection with the iixed shaft. 50. This is not shown on the drawing, being self-evident.

When bearing IBS- 85A or any other suitable type is used, its inner part 85 may be aiiixed firmly by a screw, key or locking plate 61, to the part 86 of the xed shaft 50. The outer part (i5-A of the bearing should be firmly afxed to the frame or housing of thefrotatable pouring gat 62 a plate 88 and a plurality of screws 89, or by any other suitable locking means. To permit the apparatus to be easily dismounted, passages (one or more) 96 may be provided in the gear 8ly and its supporting plate 62 (if any)- To facilitate the dismounting of the apparatus, an ordinary long key 9I-92-99 may be used. having three or more step-like. sections to register the diiferent diameters SII-A, Ell-B, Sr-C, of the xed shaft 56. By a single removal of the key, all the members and parts it locks will be dismantled.

The apparatuses "shown on Figures 1 and 2, have only two casings (such as casing l66 for example) per each apparatus. This has been done for simplification of the design, but is not definitive and does not limit any of the apparatuses or any of the claims to the use of two casings per apparatus, and one single casing per apparatus may be used, in which case a counterweight should be provided for balancing the rotating members, or any number of casings found suitable. Particularly good results will b e obtained with an apparatus having 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 casings in thesame plane, or in double or triple rows.

The number of revolutions per minute of the casing around the firstv axis 30-30 (R. P. M.-1), and around the second axis 4|4| (R. P. M.-2) maybe as deemed expedient. 'I'he ratio of may be anything desired; for example, it may be equal to -1 as shown on Figure 1, or greater than 1," and may also be smaller 'than 1. However, the choice of the ratio is an important factor and should be thoroughly considered for the purpose in question.

The gate 62 may be provided with two entrance openings 94 and 95 as shown on Figure 1 and have two exit-openings 96-91 provided in the bottom part (substantially concentric with the first axis of rotation). 'I'he gate |52 may also be provided with one entrance opening 98 as shown on Figure 2. and still have one or two lor more distributing exit-openings 99 and |00 on its bottom to correspond to the amount of casings to be filled from the same rotatable pouring gate.

The distances between the inner walls of the gate B2 may, for instance, follow the design given on Figures 1 and Z-namely have the wall A farther away from the axis 30-30 than the wall B, the distances or radiiy AE be bigger than BE, A1 bigger than B1, A2 bigger than Bz, etc.

Still another aspect of this invention comprises means for the lubrication of the apparatus during the rotation. The lubricating oil may be poured into a storage space |01 on the top of the gate 62, Figure 1, and will thereafter obligatorily follow the channel |08 and emerge close to the bearing 14 which will thus be lubricated. Thereafter the oil will follow substantially the direction of centrifugal force and gravity of the oil-i. e. it will follow the dotted arrows and thereby lubricate' the teeth of the gears l'I2 and 8|, whereat it will automatically be projected towards the supporting frame 54.

If desired, an oil-storage space may also be provided in the inner part of the gate 62-for instance ||0, and through the channel ||2 and ||3 be fed into bearings '|4 and 85. If desired, ordinary oil or grease packings may be provided instead of the herein described centrlfugally acting self-lubrication means and method.

The supporting collar 52 provided with ball bearings such as ||4||5 and ||5A and I ISA may be additionally provided with the supports and ||8 in order to facilitate the trust action from the weight of the rotating parts of the apparatus. 'I'he supports ||9 and |20 for similar reasons may be provided respectively to support the parts ||5 and ||5A of the bearings.

The apparatus should also be preferably provided with a top safety-plate |2| mounted on a side-protective plate |22 which may be affixed and/or mounted on the base 5|. This top safetyplate should preferably be equal to about of the circle, or about-1A to 3A of a circle, (i. e'. embrace about l80270), so that the operator of the apparatus will not only be protected against accidents when pouring the material into the gate or gates, but also may easily dismount the casing 65 by placing the casing with the mold opposite the protective plate |22-i. e. in they position in which there will be no obstacle to the removal of the casing from the bearings, holding and engaging means in which it is mounted. For these reasons, the protective plate |22 should be atleast Az of a circle (at least embrace 120), and larger, preferably. 'I'he total apparatus may also be sur..

6 rounded with a protective plate such as |22, encircling the entire apparatus (360). In such a structure, one part thereof should be mounted on pivots to permit easy access to the casingsBB. This is not shown, being self-explanatory.

Figure 2 shows still another aspect of this apparatus which is substantially identical with the apparatus described above and depicted on Figure 1, but is more economical to use and build.

This apparatus (Figure 2) has the rotatable gate 62A rigidly mounted on the supporting frame member(or lever) 54 on a collar |23 rigid therewith. The collar |23 may be keyed or mounted by means of threads |24 on the body (or frame) of the rotating pouring gate 62A. In the case that vthe bottom of the gate |25 will not be'sufliciently strong', a reinforcement'member. 25A may be soldered or otherwise affixed to this bottom and the collar 23 may -be rigidly mounted thereon by any suitable means.

Instead of mounting the gate 62A on the plate collar |23, it may be mounted directly on the shaft |3|, which shaft, contrary to the shaft 50 of` Figure 1, is a rotatable shaft and is rotated by suitable means, such as for instance, by the pulley |35 and the belt |36 driven by a motor |38 through pulley |31 or by a gear directly interconnected with a gear mounted on theshaft |3| (not shown on Figure 2), in which case vthe shaft |3| will then be driven by a motor attached to the first named gear.

The shaft |3| may itself, if desired, become a driving shaft. 'l Locking means |39 and/or |32|33 may be provided. This systemis thus different from the system shown on Figure 1, insofar that the shaft |3| is rotated, thegate 62A is rigid with the shaft and the upper supporting plate 63-58 does not contact the body of the `gate 62A and is provided with anv annular opening |26 through which the xed gear |40 is mounted. The gears '|2 and 12A (one or more of them) operatively engage the fixed gear |40 which is equal in function to the fixed gear 8| of Figure 1, forcing the casings 66 to rotate simultaneously around the axes 30-30 and 4 |-4|. The fixed gear |40 may be mounted on a suitable sup.. port or on a cellar member |4| rigid with the top safety-plate |21, which latter is rigid with the protective plate |28 mounted on the base |29. A collar |30 may be provided on the base |29 to receive bearings ||5 and ||6 preferably provided respectively with supporting collars ||1, ||8, I8 and |20.

Having now ascertained and particularly described the nature of the said invention and the mannerl in which it is to be performed, what I claim is.'

1. In a casting apparatus for subjecting the material cast to two simultaneous rotations, a base, a vertical shaft on said base. a mold-carrying frame on said shaft, and rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a rotatable pouring gate casing rigid with said frame and rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a stationary bevel gear fixed to the base, a rotating bevel gear rotatably mounted on said gate casing and meshing with said stationary bevel gear, projections on the side of said rotating 'bevel gear away from said gate casing, an arm pivoted to said frame at a point opposite said rotating bevel gear and remote from' said shaft, a thrust bearing rotatably mounted on said arm in such position that when the arm is perpendicular .to axisv of rotation of v coincide.` projections 7 on said thrust bearing, a mold `casing having on its molten material receiving side depressions to receive the projections on the rotating bevel ing depressions on its opposite end to receive the projections on said thrust bearing, and fastening means on said frame engaging the free end of said arm to hold said arm perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotating bevel gear after a mold casing has been inserted between said rotating bevel gear and said arm.

2. In a casting apparatus for subjecting the material cast to two simultaneous-rotations, a base, a vertical shaft rigid with said base, a mold gear, said mold casing hav` carrying frame rotatably mounted on said shaft, 15

a rotatable pouring gate casing rigid with said' frame and rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a stationary bevel gear xed to said shaft, a ref tating bevel gear rotatably mounted on said gate casing and meshing with said stationary bevel gear. projections on the side of said rotating bevel gear away from said gate casing. an arm pivoted to said frame at a point opposite said rotating bevel gear and remote from said shaft, a thrust bearing rotatably mounted on said arm in such position that when the arm is perpendicular to axis of rotation of said rotating bevel gear, the axes of rotation ofthe ,thrustv bearing and the rotating bevel gear coincide, projections on said thrust bearing, a mold casing having on its molten material receiving side depressions to receive the projections on the rotating bevel gear, said mold casing. having depressionson its opposite end to receive the projections on said thrust bearing. and fastening means on said frame engaging the `iree end of said arm to hold said arm perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotating bevel gear after a mold casing has been inserted between said rotating bevel gear Aand said arm.

3. In a casting apparatus for subjecting the material castto two simultaneous rotationsa V base, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on said base, a mold carrying frame, iixed to said shaft. a rotatable pouring gate casing rigid with said frame, and rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a stationary bevel gear fixed to the base, a rotating bevel gear rotatably mounted on said gate casing and meshing with said stationary bevel gear, projections on the side of said rotating bevel gear away from said gate casing, an arm pivoted to said frame at a point opposite said rotating bevel gear and remote from said shaft, a thrust bearing rotatably mounted on said arm in such position that when the arm is perpendicular to axis of rotation of said rotating bevel gear, the axes of rotation of kthe thrust bearing and the rotating bevel gear coincide. .on said thrust bearing, a mold casing having on its molteny material receiving side depressions t0 receive the projections on the rotating bevel gear, said mold casing having Idepressions on its opposite end to receive the projections on said thrust bearing. and fastening means on said frame en-4 gaging the free end of said arm to hold said arm perpendicular to the axis ofv rotation of said ro tating bevel gear after a mold casing has been inserted between said rotating bevel gear and said arm. GEORGE A. RUBISSOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references a're of record Yin the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 1,931,888 Braddock Oct. 24, 1933 projections 

